Suspension rubber toy



Jan, 285, N36. 1.. D. MILLER SUSPENSION RUBBER TOY Filed Dec. 8, 1934Patented Jan. 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,028,797 H SUSPENSION RUBBER TOYLayard D. Miller, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Lee- Tex Rubber ProductsCorporation, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 8, 1934, Serial No. 756,597

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a rubber toy constructed with a view tosuspension in use. It is somewhat in the nature of a balloon adapted tobe filled or inflated with air or other gas. More particularly thepresent improvements are directed to certain features in the way oflooped tubular protuberances on the surface of the balloon, and to themethod of their manufacture. These projections may take various forms,and the toy itself may be so shaped as to simulate almost any desiredobject in whole or in part a human figure, an animal, a grotesquecharacter, etc.

It is a primary purpose of my invention to devise for such a rubber toya strong, simple and practical means of suspension whereby the toy maybe hung up to view and withstand the customary handling and usage. Inaddition, the suspension feature herein to be described is ad- 20vantageous in that the means employed for this purpose is integral withthe toy itself, is tubular and in communication with the interior of thebody so as to receive therefrom air or other gas used to fill or inflatethe toy, is reinforced to 25 better sustain the load depended therefrom,and

also to restrain any but a minor amount of inflation of such suspensionmeans, and is opaque as distinguished from the body of the toy which maybe and usually is endowed with a considerable degree of translucency.

An exemplification of this invention is set forth in the accompanyingdrawing wherein- Figure 1 is a view in plan of a suggested form or core;

35 Fig. 2 is a similar view of the form with a rubber coating appliedthereto;

Fig. 3 is a view in section through the rubber coating with a portion,but not all, of the form removed; and

40 Fig. 4 is a view of the completed rubber toy,

as when air-filled or inflated.

In the ensuing description I shall discuss by way of exemplification arubber toy adapted to be air-filled or inflated in accordance with usualpractice. Toys of this kind may be produced with the aid of forms havingan infinite variety of shapes whereby the completed toy body maysimulate almost any desired figure, animal, object, etc. The toy B shownbest in Fig. 4, is of generally spherical shape to resemble a grotesquehead having certain facial markings f. Additionally it is provided withtubular external protuberances, such as ears E, prongs P, and a centralstem S formed to provide a loop or eye e.

The form or core for producing an article, such as shown in Fig. 4, maybe made of paper or other material which will meet the requirements ofthis invention. It is desirable that the form be discerptible ordisintegrable following the several 5 operations to which it issubjected. As shown, the form is provided with a central head 5 ofgenerally circular shape having a depending neck 6 and opposed sideextensions 1, also a pair of diverging fingers 8 between which is acentral 10 finger 9 terminating in an eye In.

A paper form or core having a shape appropriate for producing thedesired article is covered with a liquid rubber composition to provide acoating Which, upon solidification, may be removed from the form. Inthis operation the form is severed along the lines II, as indicated inFig. 3, whereby the core pieces 1, 8 and 9 remain confined within thecoating. To the lower end of the neck may be applied a mouthpiece I2,and, if desired, the neck may be equipped with a valve l5, as shown.

A rubber toy which is produced in the manner described is provided withcertain tubular external protuberances, each reinforced by a core pieceof corresponding size and shape. This is advantageous because, wheninflated, it is these protuberances or the places where they join withthe main body of the toy that are weakest, and so require reinforcement.The core pieces within such protuberances furnish an adequatereinforcement. In addition, the presence of these core pieces acts torestrain inflation of the tubular protuberances which are integral withthe toy body and in communication therewith.

The center protuberance at the top of the toy body is equipped with aloop or eye e, as above noted. Unless reinforced, this loop wouldprobably be valueless for suspension purposes. Owing to the presence ofthe corepiece which extends around the loop, this latter element issufliciently strong to serve as a point of suspension for the toy whendepended from a cord I6 of rubber, string, or other desired material.

The attractiveness of such a rubber toy is en- 5 hanced by havingeffective decoration applied to its surface. The rubber of which the toyis formed may be fairly clear and translucent so that light will passtherethrough to enhance the effectiveness of the decoration upon itssurface. A pleas- 5O ing contrast is afforded by the opaque character ofthe external protuberances, due to the presence in each of the corepieces severed from the remainder of the form about which the toy ismade. These several advantages, separately or together,

all contribute to the improved character of the present toy for which Idesire protection as set in communication therewith, and a core piececonfined within the tubular protuberance and extending through the loopto restrain inflation thereof. ,7

' 2. In a rubber toy, the combination of a main inflatable body, atubular external protuberance integral with the body in communicationthere with and formed to provide a loop, and a core piece confinedwithin thetubular protuberance and extending around the loop acting bothto re: inforce the loop and restrain inflation thereof.

3. In a rubber toy, the combination of a main inflatable body, a tubularexternal protuberance integral with the body in communication with theinterior thereof and formed to provide therefor a suspension means, anda reinforcement 10 within the tubular protuberance acting topermit arestrained inflation thereof. it 1 LAYARD D. MILIER.

